OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-MONDAY-1/02/2016-LOOKING
UNTO JESUS II -BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
Memorise
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; Hebrews 12:2b
Read:
Hebrews 12:1-2
1Wherefore seeing we also
are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
KJV
MESSAGE
The phrase ‘Looking unto Jesus’ contains three very
important words of salvation, encouragement and direction for daily Christian
living. Nicodemus, in his search for the true God and eternal life every human
being, approached Jesus for possible understanding. Jesus made the new birth
very plain by using an Old Testament illustration of the fiery serpents of
brass put on a pole for the Israelites to look upon as recorded in the book of
Numbers 21:8-9.
“And as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:14-15
As looking unto the brass serpent on a pole
in faith brought healing to the children of Israel in the wilderness, so also,
whosoever shall look unto the crucified Christ as the Messiah and the Saviour
of the world by faith, shall receive forgiveness of sins and be born again.
From time to
time in the rigorous journeys of life, we sometimes find ourselves in a state
of tiredness and confusion. At such times, Apostle Paul in Hebrews 12:1-2
admonishes us to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith for encouragement. We are not to
look into Jesus for encouragement only; we are also to look into Jesus as our
perfect example, so as to follow in His footsteps.
“For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”
1st Peter 2:21-23
Looking unto other gods for deliverance,
healing and salvation has brought untold hardship and loss to many, while
looking unto great men and women that are successful in life and ministry has
resulted in great disappointment, sorrow and pain. As a matter of fact, this
has been a major cause of failure in life, but there is no failure or
disappointment in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus can only increase your faith and
lead to physical and spiritual upliftment. We are to look unto Jesus in our
daily Christian living as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End, who
provides us with direction through His word. This also brings us in contact
with the divine knowledge, wisdom and power of God. An ordinary person
therefore, becomes equipped to do exploit of supernatural dimensions.
Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to always look unto you for everything I
need in life.
Bible in one year
Matthew 19:1-21:27; Job 14:7-17
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